Child helps police in investigation of Petersburg man’s death

UPDATE: Petersburg Police announced Monday that William Monroe, 50, was killed by a gunshot. Detectives asked anyone with information about the shooting to call Petersburg Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.

PETERSBURG, Va. (WTVR)–Petersburg police are calling it a death investigation while 50-year-old William Monroe’s family says they’ve been told it’s murder.

There was no word Thursday night on how long Monroe’s body had been inside his Summit Street home, but an elementary school student may be able to help police with a timeline.

Summit Street was taped off as detectives looked for clues. A bullet hole with shattered glass was visible on the front door of Monroe’s home.

And a child believes she can help police with a timeline. She and her grandmother asked CBS 6 to disguise their voices and hide their identities. They tell CBS 6 two men were heard arguing.

“I heard a man say I’m going to kill you and then the man said don’t kill me,” the child said. “Then I heard a gunshot.”

“She ran into the house and called me because she was afraid she’d get shot, too,” said her grandmother.

According to people living close by, police checked the neighborhood that afternoon, but found nothing.

Fast forward to Thursday. An acquaintance of Monroe’s called police to check on his welfare. Police arrived and found him dead inside the home. As Petersburg Police conducts a death investigation, Monroe’s family tells me they were told he was killed.

Police and investigators spent the better part of two hours in the Summit Street area looking for evidence and interviewing people who live there, trying to piece together what happened to William Lesley Monroe.

“People just don’t want to get involved around here,” said Fred Goble, a neighbor.

Monroe’s body has been taken to the Medical Examiner’s office in Richmond where they will determine an official cause of death.

Police are asking residents if they have information to call Crimesolvers at (804) 861-1212.